and one who takes heed may recall what Allah has prepared for those who obey Him, and so obey Him in pursuit of His mercy. Furthermore, taking heed may lead to fulfilling the obligations by which one wards off punishment, while gratitude may be offered in pursuit of more of His bounty. Thus, it is related in the two Sahīh collections:

“The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, stood in prayer until his feet became swollen. He was asked, ‘Do you do this when Allah has forgiven your past and future sins?’ He replied, ‘Should I not be a grateful servant?’”

He also said, may Allah bless him and grant him peace:

“Let none of you wish for death. If he does good, he may increase in goodness; and if he does evil, perhaps he may be given the chance to make amends.”

The believer always has blessings from his Lord that call for gratitude, and sins for which he needs to seek forgiveness. In the foremost supplication for forgiveness, he says:

“I acknowledge before You Your blessing upon me, and I acknowledge my sin. So forgive me, for none forgives sins but You.”

He understands the full truth of Allah’s words:

“Whatever good befalls you is from Allah, and whatever evil befalls you is from yourself.”

Whatever good befalls him consists of Allah’s blessings and therefore calls for gratitude. Whatever calamities befall him are due to his sins and call for him to remember those sins, prompting repentance and seeking forgiveness. Allah has made “the night and the day succeed one another for whoever wishes to take heed,” so that he may repent